不
bù
Not
不 (bù) is the most common way to say "not" in Mandarin Chinese. It's used to negate verbs, adjectives, and some adverbs, indicating something is not true, not happening, or not a certain way.
What does 不 (bù) mean?
不 (bù) means “not” in English. Word for word, it breaks down as “not / no.”
When to use it
Neutral. It's widely used in all contexts. Another important negative is 没 (méi), used specifically for negating existence, possession, or completed actions.
How to pronounce it
Sounds like "boo." It's a falling tone. Be aware of its tone change rule.
Other ways to say it
- 没méinot (for existence, possession, or completed actions)
- 不是bú shìis not
- 不行bù xíngno / not okay / won't do
Examples
我不是中国人。
wǒ bú shì Zhōngguórén.
I am not Chinese.
她不喜欢咖啡。
tā bù xǐhuan kāfēi.
She doesn't like coffee.
这个不难。
zhège bù nán.
This is not difficult.
Pro tip: Tone change: When 不 (bù, 4th tone) is followed by another 4th tone character, 不 changes to a 2nd tone (bú). For example, 不去 (bù qù) is pronounced "bú qù."
Related phrases
但是 · But用 · By蓝色 · Blue
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